Re: Military Acronomic Plurals (MAPs)

[jsokohl -at- CAMPBELLSOFT -dot- COM]

     Fred Ridder   (ridderf -at- dialogic -dot- com) wrote, in part:

     >The last time I looked at Mil spec standards (which was
     admittedly some years ago, thank God...) they were very specific
     that plurals of abbreviations and acronyms must be formed by
     appending an apostrophe as well as an "s".

     FWIW, I'd have to correct this. Miitary specifications I've used over
     the years (not now but from '80-'92) are clear that you simply add an
     _s_ to form plurals.

     According TRADOC Reg 25-30 (dated 30 Mar 90), "Add a lowercase _s_ to
     form the plural of most acronyms: LAWs, MOSs, NCOs, SOPs." Also, the
     regulation states: "Do not add an _s_ to form the plurals of acronyms
     whose meanins are plural: 'MOUT [military operations on urbanized
     terrain] are part of the operational concept.'"

     Also: "Singular and plural abbreviations are _usually_ identical: amt
     for amount or amounts; div for division or divisions; hr for hour or
     hours; km for kilometer or kilometers; BUT p for page yet pp for
     pages."

     As another reference, check out AR 25-30, The Army Integrated
     Publishing and Printing Program. Also, one of TRADOC Reg 25-30's
     references is the Chicago Manual of Style.

     joe
     Joe Sokohl
     Manager of Documentation
     Campbell Software, Inc.

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